Description
Group to a Hero of the Soviet Union
Awarded to Fighter Pilot and Major Vasilij Ivanovich Mishustin (Василий Иванович Мишустин)
For participating in 68 air battles in which he personally achieved 16(!) air victories and contributed to 8 group victories. When he ran out of ammunition he even rammed a Me-109 with his plane
Next to his air victories he destroyed a huge number of enemy troops, vehicles and ammunition
This group consists of the following items:
- Gold Star to the Hero of the Soviet Union #6580 with booklet
- Medal for Combat Merit
- Medal for the Liberation of Prague
- Medal for the Defence of the Caucasus
- Medal for the Capture of Berlin
- Medal for the Victory over Germany
- Medal for 20 years Impeccable service (silver variation)
- Polish Medal for Oder, Neisse and Baltic
- Czechoslovak War Cross 1939–1945
- Jubilee medals
- Badges
- 3 original images of Major Mishustin
- A harmonica attributed to Major Mishustin
Gold Star to the Hero of the Soviet Union #6580 with booklet
Made of 23 ct gold. The star itself measures 31.64 mm in height including its eyelet, 30.19 mm in width and weighs 21.0 grams. The suspension measures 26.39 mm in width at its widest point and 21.67 mm in height (not including the projection for the suspension ring hole).
This gold star is in excellent, above average condition. There are several small dings and scratches but nothing distracting from the great eye appeal. The edges are crisp and all details are perfectly visible. All parts are original, including the screwplate, (uncut) connection ring, suspension, hexagonal plate and the quadrangular plate.
The gold star comes with its award booklet major Mishustin and is numbered 005361
Medal for Combat Merit
Made of solid silver. Measures 36.58 mm in height including its eyelet, 32.07 mm in diameter and weighs 19.0 grams without its suspension.
In excellent condition with crisp details and all enamels present. Its eyelet is partly twisted but still firmly attached. The medal comes with a time period brass suspension.
Medal for the Liberation of Prague
Made of gold plated brass. Measures 37.56 mm in height including its eyelet, 32.14 mm in diameter and weighs 17.3 grams without its suspension.
In splendid condition with crisp details and most gold plating still present. The medal comes with a time period double layer steel suspension.
Medal for the Defence of the Caucasus
Made of gold plated brass. Measures 37.22 mm in height including its eyelet, 32.20 mm in diameter and weighs 17.4 grams without its suspension.
In splendid condition with crisp details and most gold plating still present. The medal comes with a time period double layer steel suspension.
Medal for the Capture of Berlin
Made of gold plated brass. Measures 37.62 mm in height including its eyelet, 32.06 mm in diameter and weighs 17.0 grams without its suspension.
In great condition with crisp details and most gold plating still present. The medal comes with a time period double layer suspension.
Medal for the Victory over Germany
Made of gold plated brass. Measures 37.79 mm in height including its eyelet, 32.44 mm in diameter and weighs 17.2 grams without its suspension.
In splendid condition with crisp details and most gold plating still present. The medal comes with a time period brass suspension.
Medal for 20 years Impeccable service (silver variation)
Made of solid silver. Measures 37.24 mm in height including its eyelet, 32.26 mm in diameter and weighs 21.2 grams without its suspension.
In near mint condition with crisp details and an appealing layer of dark patina.
Czechoslovak War Cross 1939–1945
Made of brass. Measures 48.69 mm in height including its eyelet, 44.16 mm in width and weighs 14.8 grams without its suspension.
Excellent example with crisp details. Mounted on a suspension next to the Polish medal.
Awarded to all Czechoslovak citizens, units, and members of armies abroad, units and members of allied armies, that excelled in combat against fascism during World War II.
Polish Medal for Oder, Neisse and Baltic
Made of brass. Measures 37.77 mm in height including its eyelet, 33.23 mm in diameter and weighs 18.9 grams.
Excellent example with crisp details. Mounted on a suspension next to the Czechoslovakian medal.
Participation in the battles on the Oder, Neisse and the Baltic Sea regions from March to April 1945
Jubilee medals
All in excellent or better condition
Badges
18 badges all in great condition apart from the Guard’s badge which has its screw replaced by a stickpin and some damage to the enamels. This damage must have happened a long time ago since the picture of Mishustin in his booklet shows him wearing the badge with the exact same damage.
Pictures
The two images in the first picture in the gallery are original and phisically present in this lot. The same accounts for the picture in the booklet.
A harmonica attributed to Major Mishustin
In good working order.
An amazing group of great historical significance!
Citation for the Titel of Hero of the Soviet Union:
Brief and specific description of the personal feat or merits:
In the course of the Patriotic war from 22.06.1941 till 02.02.1945, comrade MISHUSTIN made 366 combat missions and achieved 15 air victories, earning order “Lenin”, two orders “Red Banner”, and order “Aleksander Nevsky”.
From the date of his latest award on 02.02.1945 and until 10.03.1945, comrade MISHUSTIN made further 22 combat missions, participating in 2 air battles, in which he achieved 1 personal air victory over a Fw-190.
Comrade MISHUSTIN is an excellent fighter pilot, who exhibits high piloting class, courage and bravery during the combat engagements. His combat career shines with many victories, despite the enemy numerical superiority. Such as:
On 01.08.1942, comrade MISHUSTIN was a group leader of 5 Lagg-3 aircrafts, flying an escort mission for our ground assault aircrafts near the town Maykop. Over the target sector, 4 Me-109 attempted an attack at our IL-2, but our pilots under the command of comrade MISHUSTIN managed to fend off all the enemy attacks shooting down 2 Me-109 and ensuring, that our bombers could accomplish their mission.
On the return leg of the mission, comrade MISHUSTIN spotted a group of 10 Me-110 assaulting the rail station Georgievsk. Comrade MISHUSTIN sent a radio message, ordering 2 our aircrafts to continue their escort mission, but he and 6 others Lagg-3 attacked the enemy. In this air battle, he personally shot down 1 and his group 3 Me-110 aircrafts.
While continuing his mission, comrade MISHUSTIN was suddenly attacked by 2 Me-109. In the course of this third air battle, MISHUSTIN’s ammunition ran out. But despite that, he accepted the engagement and made a decision to ram a Me-109 in a head to head attack. The enemy failed to evade and MISHUSTIN’s wing rammed the enemy aircraft, which crushed into the ground with the pilot. Comrade MISHUSTIN aircraft also caught on fire, which engulfed the cockpit, and he jumped out with parachute.
On 03.06.1943, comrade MISHUSTIN in a group of 6 La-5 fighter aircrafts blocked the enemy airfield in Mikoyanovka (Kharkov sector) and didn’t allow a single enemy plane to take off the ground. This effort enabled an effective strike of our bombers and fighter planes against this airfield. The enemy called assistance by radio from a neighbouring airfield. 20 Me-109 appeared over Mikoyanovka and our brave 6 La-5 engaged them in an uneven fight, shooting down 5 planes during the battle. Personally, comrade MISHUSTIN shot 2 enemy aircrafts and suffered no losses in his aircraft group.
Comrade MISHUSTIN’s combat career is full of such heroic examples. In total during the Patriotic war from 22.06.1941 till 10.03.1945, comrade MISHUSTIN made 388 combat missions and participated in 68 air battles, in which he achieved 16 air victories: 2 Ju-88, 2 Ju-87, 9 Me-109, 1 Fw-190, 1 He-111, 1 Me-110. He also contributed to 8 group victories: 1 Ju-87, 5 He-111, 1 Fw-189, 1 He-126.
Attacking the enemy ground troops, he destroyed: 13 trucks with troops and ammunition, 2 steamers, 17 rail wagons, 2 fuel rail cars, 1 bridge, and up to 175 enemy troops.
As an aviation squadron commander, comrade MISHUSTIN leads his pilots by personnel example of courage and bravery. In the period of his command from 03.07.1942 till 10.03.1945, squadron made 1838 combat sorties and engaged in 163 air battles, in which 81 enemy aircrafts were shot down. As the result of ground strikes, 8 steamers, 48 rail wagons, 54 trucks, 8 fuel rail cars, 18 horse carriages, 3 depots, 3 bridges, 1 soldiers club with enemy troops inside were destroyed.
He hasn’t been in an encirclement nor in enemy captivity. He remains in active duty.
For exemplary execution of the combat missions on the front of struggle against the German invaders, for exhibited courage and bravery, for personal 16 air victories, he deserves state award – title “HERO OF SOVIET UNION”.
The full translation of the citations can be found below:
A lot on information on Hero of the Soviet Union Mishustin is online. Some examples of paged dedicated to him can be found here, here, here and here
Major Vasilij Ivanovich Mishustin on Pamyat-Narod
Please contact us with questions
